Ventilated head covering

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a ventilated head covering having a band adapted to encircle a wearer&#39;s head; a plurality of longitudinal supports extending away from the band in a direction substantially perpendicular to the band, each support having a proximal end affixed to the band and a distal end a distance away from the band; a sun shield support affixed to the distal ends of two or more longitudinal supports and substantially perpendicular thereto; a substantially planar sun shield disposed across the sun shield support; wherein the distance between the distal end of the longitudinal support and the band is sufficient to hold the sun shield away from a wearer&#39;s head, and wherein the longitudinal supports are space apart sufficiently to allow substantially unrestricted air flow between them and across the head of a wearer.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a head covering that protects the headfrom the sun and rain, while maximizing the flow of air circulating overthe wearer's head. As a result, the wearer feels quite cool, bothbecause the head is shaded from the sun, and because perspiration israpidly evaporated by the flow of air across the head and scalp, coolingthe wearer.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Overall body temperature and whether an individual feels hot orcold is heavily influenced by heat transfer from the head. The head isan important site for transfer of heat from the body to cool it, as wellas for conservation of heat to keep the body warm. For example,hospitals often place a hat on an infant because keeping the head warmis an important factor in maintaining the child's body temperature.

[0005] Similarly, in tropical or temperate climates, head coverings areoften used to shade the head from direct sun, thus keeping down thetemperature of the air in the vicinity of the head, allowing heat toescape therefrom. However, such head coverings also tend to restrict theflow of air across the head, particularly the scalp. This restriction onair flow can allow heat generated by the head to accumulate in the airunder the head covering, in effect insulating the head. In addition,restricted air flow decreases the rate at which perspiration evaporates.Since the evaporation of perspiration is an effective cooling mechanismin the body temperature regulation schemes of many mammals, includinghumans, decreasing evaporation will inhibit the body's ability to coolitself.

[0006] As a result, there remains a need in the art for a head coveringthat will cool the wearer in two ways. First, the head covering shouldshield the head from direct exposure to the sun's rays, thereby keepingheat from being transferred to the head, and providing a cooler, shadedarea around the head. Second, the head covering should permit maximumevaporation of perspiration and removal of heated air from the vicinityof the head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one embodiment, the invention relates to a head coveringhaving:

[0008] a band adapted to encircle a wearer's head;

[0009] a plurality of longitudinal supports extending away from the bandin a direction substantially perpendicular to the band, each supporthaving a proximal end affixed to the band and a distal end a distanceaway from the band;

[0010] a sun shield support affixed to the distal ends of two or morelongitudinal supports and substantially perpendicular thereto;

[0011] a substantially planar sun shield disposed across the sun shieldsupport; wherein the distance between the distal end of the longitudinalsupport and the band is sufficient to hold the sun shield away from awearer's head, and wherein the longitudinal supports are spaced apartsufficiently to allow substantially unrestricted air flow between themand across the head of a wearer.

[0012] One of the benefits of this head covering as compared to otherhead coverings is that It allows a substantially unrestricted air flowacross the head, and in particular across the top of the head or scalp.Several features of the head covering facilitate this substantiallyunrestricted flow.

[0013] First, the distance between the band and the sun shield issufficient to allow substantially free flow of air between the top ofthe head and the sun shield. In addition, the longitudinal supports thatseparate the sun shield from the band are relatively few in number andrelatively small in width; in effect, the width of the gaps between thesupports is considerably larger than the width of the supportsthemselves. Again, this open space allows maximum air flow across thetop of head to maximize cooling of the head, both through removal ofwarm air, and/or increased evaporation (resulting from bringing drierair into the vicinity of the top of the head, so that the difference inhumidity provides a driving force that causes more perspiration toevaporate).

[0014] Second, the sun shield is substantially planar, so that there isno curved “crown” area, as there is in other head coverings. This limitsthe ability of the sun shield to form a trap for trap heat. Theconstruction of the head covering makes it more breathable, thereforeallows for better cooling, than other head coverings, and gives thewearer the benefit of reducing the possibility of a stroke from excessheat.

[0015] In addition, in certain embodiments, the head covering of theinvention can be made of flexible material, can be made adjustable, canhave replaceable sun shields (which can be made of different types offabrics and/or solid materials); all of the aforementioned allow forindividual requirements of preferences by the wearer. Other headcoverings, such as those currently available in the marketplace, do notprovide all of the above mentioned benefits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the headcovering of the invention, as worn.

[0017]FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the various components of theembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the an embodiment of theinvention with a full brim.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 6 shows various embodiments of sun shields for use in thehead covering of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The head covering of the invention is constructed of a bandadapted to wrap around the head, and having a plurality, typically 3, 4,or 5 longitudinal supports attached thereto. In a particular embodiment,the band and/or the supports are of a minimal width, so that theyprovide structural support for the sun shield and sun shield support,but also provide substantial open area for air to pass into and throughthe head covering and over the head. The longitudinal supports hold thesun shield support (and the sun shield, which is substantially flat) asufficient distance above the top of a wearers head, that the sun shielddoes not come into contact with the head, and that air can freely flowbeneath the sun shield and across the head. This arrangement makes thehead covering very breathable, and allows the maximum flow of air acrossthe head, without trapping any air, as can occur with a curved,crown-type head covering. As a result, the head is both shaded andcooled by removal of heated air from the vicinity of the skin surface.The influx of fresh air also aids in evaporative cooling of the head byhelping perspiration to evaporate. As the head is kept cool, thewearer's entire body is and feels cooler, because the head becomes amore efficient radiator of body heat.

[0023] The substantially flat sun shield tends-to-keep the air flowingacross the head without lifting the hat off the head, because the flatsurface does not act as an airfoil. This prevents the formation of lift,which might tend to cause the head covering to blow off in a stiffbreeze.

[0024] The invention can be more clearly understood by reference to thedrawing figures, described in detail below.

[0025]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of the headcovering of the invention on a wearer. The bill 100 extends forward,across approximately the width of the head, to shade some or all of theface from the sun or the elements. The band 102 (which can be made ofleather or cloth, depending on the amount of moisture absorbencydesired) is attached to the bill and provides a base for thelongitudinal supports 104, while also securing the head covering to thehead. The band width is variable, and may be wider at the front 102Bthan in other areas. The diameter of the band can be adjusted by themanufacturer or wearer to allow for proper fitting. The band serves thefunctions of securing the head covering to the wearer's head, supportingthe longitudinal and sun shield supports, and absorbing perspirationfrom the wearer's brow.

[0026] To facilitate the adjustability of the band and its ability tosecure the head covering to the wearer's head, it can be separated inthe rear 102A, and supplied with features to make it adjustable, such asone or more holes on one end of the separated band, and one or morecooperating studs or hooks on the other end of the separated band, thatwill fit into the hole(s) and allow the diameter of the band to beadjusted. The ends of the separated band could also be supplied with ahook-and-loop closure (e.g., VELCRO) or other comparable mechanism.

[0027] The longitudinal supports 104, that are attached to the band andthat support the sun shield support, are generally present in numbers ofbetween two and ten supports. In general, the number of longitudinalsupports is limited to that necessary to adequately hold the sun shieldsupport and sun shield away from the top of the wearer's head. Limitingthe number of supports in this way tends to maximize the volume of airthat can flow freely over the head, thereby tending to produce themaximum cooling effect for the wearer, with the minimum number of poststhat provide firm support. These longitudinal supports 104 can be madeof acrylic or other plastic, or other comparable material.

[0028] In addition, in one, these vertical supports 104A are adjustable,so that they can be raised when it is very sunny, to provide the maximumair flow across the head, and if it starts to rain, they can be loweredto keep more rain off the head. Because of the adjustable factor ofthese vertical supports, the top covering can additionally be angled inany direction.

[0029] The sun shield support 106 is attached to the vertical supports104, and can be made of plastic, acrylic or a comparable material thatprovides sufficient rigidity to support the sun shield and hold it awayfrom the wearer's head. The sun shield support 106 is a frame over whichthe sun shield 108 is disposed, typically by stretching until the sunshield is relatively taut. The sun shield support 106 can be madeadjustable to accommodate different area sun shields, thereby allowingfor a different areas of and around the head to be shielded from the sunby the head covering.

[0030] The sun shields 108 are desirably made of a flexible fabric, butmay also be made of a solid material. In addition to deflecting the sunfrom the wearer's head, another of the many uses of the solid materialsun shield 108A would be to keep the rain off the head, whereas thefabric sun shield 108 would be more breathable. Composite sun shields,made of fabric and porous films, such as porous PTFE (e.g., GORE-TEX®)can advantageously be used. The sun shields 108 and 108A can be made inmany different colors and/or textures, and may bear symbols, logos, orthe like. As illustrated, the sun shield is approximately the samediameter as the sun shield support, and can be made of an elasticfabric, such as an elastic nylon like SPANDEX, or may be a nonelasticfabric, having a band of elastic material attached to it. In anotherembodiment, the sun shield can extend beyond the sun shield support,e.g., providing a flap of material that extends radially over the head,providing additional protection against the sun and the elements.

[0031] In another embodiment, the head covering can have a full brim 110going completely around the band 102, rather than a bill 100 at thefront of the band, and which shades primarily the face. The brim 110 canvary in width from less than about two inches to ten (10) or moreinches. A complete brim can provide protection for the ears, neck andshoulders, shading them from the sun and the elements. The brim can belonger in the back than in the front, in order to shade the neck andprovide protection from the sun's rays.

What is claimed is:
 1. A head covering comprising: a band adapted toencircle a wearer's head; a plurality of longitudinal supports extendingaway from the band in a direction substantially perpendicular to theband, each support having a proximal end affixed to the band and adistal end a distance away from the band; a sun shield support affixedto the distal ends of two or more longitudinal supports andsubstantially perpendicular thereto; a substantially planar sun shielddisposed across the sun shield support; wherein the distance between thedistal end of the longitudinal support and the band is sufficient tohold the sun shield away from a wearer's head, and wherein thelongitudinal supports are space apart sufficiently to allowsubstantially unrestricted air flow between them and across the head ofa wearer.
 2. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the distance betweendistal and proximal end of the longitudinal support is adjustable. 3.The head covering of claim 1, wherein the band comprises a flexible coresurrounded by a fabric.
 4. The head covering of claim 1, wherein theband and one or more longitudinal supports are integral.
 5. The headcovering of claim 1, wherein the sun shield support and one or morelongitudinal supports are integral.
 6. The head covering of claim 1,wherein the band, the sun shield support, and one or more longitudinalsupports are integral.
 7. The head covering of claim 1, wherein the sunshield comprises a fabric or film capable of reflecting at least aportion of light incident upon it.
 8. The head covering of claim 1,wherein each pair of longitudinal supports has an opening between them,which is wider than the width of each support.
 9. The head covering ofclaim 1, further comprising a bill or brim extending substantiallylaterally from the band away from the head of the wearer.